Rootswise Doula

Rootswise Doula Crystal Lyons - Holistic homebirth + postpartum support in Santa Cruz, CA and surrounding areas.

Wise words from and ✨We live in a society where so many women grow up without the example of elders tending to babies—...
11/19/2025

Wise words from and ✨

We live in a society where so many women grow up without the example of elders tending to babies—and without the circle of women who would once step in to hold them as they became mothers. We expect new mothers to simply “figure it out” in isolation, but this goes against our deepest physiological and emotional needs.

New mothers deserve to be witnessed in their sacred unfolding. They deserve wise, steady support as they move through this profound transformation.

There are so many of us doing this work—creating a true —and with more insurance plans now covering doula services, this level of care is finally becoming accessible to more families. I’m so grateful for that, because every mother deserves a doula🤍

Truth bombs from and 💣 Social media, television and the overarching narrative are out here undermining mothers’ confid...
11/12/2025

Truth bombs from and 💣

Social media, television and the overarching narrative are out here undermining mothers’ confidence at every turn. Tune out the noise, listen to your gut and consult a wise woman. The world has gone mad and forgotten what is normal and natural - I’m here to remind you🤍🌿

Thank you for your kind words Ashley .well 💖
11/11/2025

Thank you for your kind words Ashley .well 💖

Wise words from via ✨No one makes it through the portal of birth and motherhood unchanged. The more you try to stay th...
11/10/2025

Wise words from via ✨

No one makes it through the portal of birth and motherhood unchanged. The more you try to stay the same, the harder the journey becomes. Let go. Let go of your maiden self, of your expectations and attempts to control. Follow your baby’s lead and let them teach you. Trust your gut. Receive. Let your support team hold you as you navigate this transition and find your footing. Your future, wiser self will thank you💛

I recently attended two great local events where I had the opportunity to learn from some other skilled practitioners in...
11/07/2025

I recently attended two great local events where I had the opportunity to learn from some other skilled practitioners in our community on all things perinatal pelvic floor health and chiropractic care.

Many thanks to Dr. Taflyn Wilschinsky for her Pelvic Floor Workshop for Doulas & Birth Workers at Full Moon Birth Center. It was wonderful to learn alongside other doulas and I’m so grateful for the helpful resources she provided that will be such an asset to share with clients.

Big thanks also to Dr. Alex Beaudoin and Dr. Laura Barnum for their talk Body in Balance: Understanding Pregnancy & Postpartum Changes at Nurture Women’s Health & Fertility. This event was attended by a beautiful mix of new & expectant parents and birthworkers and gave an excellent overview of the physical shifts that happen during the childbearing year and ways to support the body through each stage.

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again…Santa Cruz is such an incredibly special place to have a baby! We are so blessed with a community of wise women to support families on the journey. My hope is that eventually, pelvic floor physical therapy, chiropractic care and cranio sacral therapy will become part of the standard of care for all mothers and babies. This work is vital!

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Just as adolescence describes the often tumultuous transformation from child to adult, matrescence marks the metamorphos...
11/06/2025

Just as adolescence describes the often tumultuous transformation from child to adult, matrescence marks the metamorphosis from maiden to mother.

We are forever changed…physically, emotionally, hormonally, psychologically, socially, spiritually, politically, culturally.

There is no “back” to bounce to, only forward.

This process of becoming a mother is cyclical and ongoing. A spiral continually revealing new layers of ourselves.

We are unraveled and rebuilt.

The term matrescence was first coined in the 70s by anthropologist Dana Raphael, finally giving a name to this massive identity shift.

Having an awareness and understanding of matrescence helps mothers put their varied experiences into context, often reframing how we feel about them and offering some comfort in knowing we’re not alone. It can help manage expectations and allow more self compassion, validating the normalcy of how we’re feeling.

Having the support of a postpartum doula walking through this journey alongside you is invaluable. We are there to guide, inform and hold you in the magnitude of your experience.

This type of care can help turn what could feel like a chaotic free fall into a meaningful, grounded journey of growth and evolution.

Every mother deserves to be witnessed and held with reverence through this sacred portal🌀

Feeling nostalgic as one of my postpartum clients from last year celebrates her twins’ first trip around the sun!🌞 I alw...
11/06/2025

Feeling nostalgic as one of my postpartum clients from last year celebrates her twins’ first trip around the sun!🌞 I always admired the borage growing abundantly near their home when out on walks with the babies (giving mama time to soak in the tub & stretch her body). Borage has always been one of my favorite herbal allies...its leaves are good medicine for new mamas, helping to increase milk supply, calming jagged nerves & nourishing the adrenals. The purple starlike flowers add beauty to salads & the bees love them too!💜🌿

Loving this wisdom from 🤍Patience, like surrender, can be such a challenging skill to master in motherhood. Patience as...
11/04/2025

Loving this wisdom from 🤍

Patience, like surrender, can be such a challenging skill to master in motherhood. Patience as you wait for labor to begin. Patience with your healing. Patience (and perseverance) with learning to breastfeed. And most importantly, patience with yourself as you navigate this completely new role and identity. On the other side are the gifts of growth, newfound strength, confidence and love like you’ve never known🌱

If you’re feeling unsure about what’s “normal” when it comes to baby sleep — you’re not alone. 💛So many of the modern me...
11/03/2025

If you’re feeling unsure about what’s “normal” when it comes to baby sleep — you’re not alone. 💛

So many of the modern messages we receive about infant sleep don’t align with what babies actually need.

Here are 3 truths I wish every new parent knew:

1. Frequent waking is normal and protective.

Babies aren’t meant to sleep long stretches alone — those night wakings are part of how their bodies regulate temperature, breathing, and connection.

2. Safe bedsharing can be safer than unsafe solo sleep.

When done intentionally and with the right setup, sharing sleep can support breastfeeding, bonding, and better rest for both baby and parent.

3. You don’t need to train your baby to sleep — you can trust biology.

Sleep training often asks babies to override their instincts for closeness. When we understand how babies are wired, we can respond in ways that meet their true developmental needs.

If this resonates, How Babies Sleep by Helen Ball is such an incredible read — it breaks down the science and helps parents find confidence in following their instincts. 🌙

Have you ever felt pressure to “fix” your baby’s sleep? I’d love to hear your experience in the comments.

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11/01/2025

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Santa Cruz, CA

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

Telephone

(831)818-4562

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